Ha, Ha And Aha

First published in 1987. What distinguishes people from other animals is said to be people's ability to laugh. Much of the literature treats humor as a normal but pathological phenomenon. This volume first describes a theory which not only views humor as nonpathological, but as contributing to the evolution of social interest. It then describes the structure of the joke and proceeds to elaborate the forms and goals humor takes in psychotherapy.

Alfred Adler Institute of Chicago

Part 1 Humor; Chapter 1 What Makes Things Funny?; Chapter 2 Theories of Humor; Chapter 3 The Structure of the Joke; Part 2 Humor in Psychotherapy; Chapter 4 Role of Humor in Psychotherapy; Chapter 5 Role of Humor in Interpretation; Chapter 6 Turning the Client Around with Humor; Chapter 7 Humor as a Criterion for Termination; Chapter 8 Humor and the Therapist's Skill; Part 3 Jokes Used in Psychotherapy; Chapter 9 Jokes;